Local Living, Local Choices: Local Clothing and Entertainment

In this post of the current discussion series, Local Living, Local Choices, I'll be talking about how to choose options that are affordable, sensible and sustainable.

Fashion and entertainment are two high spending areas where a lot of dollars tend to pool in certain communities and cultures around the world.

Even when local options are not available, there are ways to limit money leaving your community and your wallet.

Local clothing

Clothing these days is almost always imported. Make a decision to stop following fashion and replacing a cheap wardrobe of imported clothing every year.

Instead, try to find good quality locally produced items that are classic, won't date, and are well-made.

If you're not sure about what classic fashion really is, read a few good books on the subject that are a few years old.

Older books make it immediately obvious what dates well and what doesn't - classic clothing is those items which look good, no matter what year or era.

The books I recommend below are really worth having on your shelf, because you'll refer to them again and again. And they'll save you lots of money.

Titles I can recommend (buy them secondhand!) include:

• Carole Jackson's Color Me Beautiful and
• Colour Me Beautiful Color for Men. These books give an insight into coloration, and which colours look great on which people. (In case you're wondering, I'm a "Spring").
  
  
• Linda Dano's Looking Great. This book teaches you how to build a core, classic wardrobe that will last through the years and seasons, without becoming a "fashion slave".
  
  
• Sherrie Mathieson's Steal This Style. When you hit 35, if you're anything like me, you wonder what on earth you're supposed to wear, as your 20-something clothes are no longer appropriate. This book shows you what ageless dressing is - from 20 to 90 and beyond.
  

Clothing can take up a huge percentage of your budget, especially if you're a young single person.

Buying clothes to last doesn't mean you're boring or untrendy. Some of the funkiest people I know buy beautiful Victorian-style clothing or classic vintage items, and work them in an original way.

Standing out from the crowd usually means NOT buying everything at Glassons or Dotti and, instead, choosing cleverly and using your brain to make your money go further.

Another friend (male) has this amazing leather jacket that he picked up secondhand and that he looks incredible in. Every time he wears it, with some jeans and a simple t-shirt, he makes all the guys around him, who wear the stuff they find in the local chain store, look cheap and average. And he probably paid less for his clothes than they did.

Finally, don't get your entertainment by shopping. It's much healthier to go for a walk with friends, or go visit an ice arena or park, or try horse-riding. Do something outdoors and real - you'll have more fun and keep dollars in your community.


Local Entertainment

Here in New Zealand, most of our entertainment comes from overseas. Most of our news broadcasts come from bought sources such as Reuters, and we get the same footage on international issues (and sometimes even the same, line by line journalism!) as overseas newspapers.

Which country were we living in, again? Can someone remind me?

Here are some ideas to keep your own sense of culture and identity thriving in your own country, and some tips on keeping local entertainment businesses financially viable.

• See locally-made and produced movies. If you are in the film industry, market your country to others.
  
  
• Listen to local music. If you run a choir or a band, choose music written by a local composer.
  
  
• Read and buy locally written literature, magazines and books. Support local authors and writers. If you are a journalist, review and write about these talents more often.
  
  
• Holiday locally. Many travellers are more familiar with the opposite side of the planet than their own backyard!
  
  
• Support local tourism. Buy a local tourism book, and visit local attractions, instead of flying out and seeing someone else's. You'll save money and be inspired by your own local history, beauty and traditions.
  
  
• Support local, independent news sources. Support (and read) local blogs, newspapers and news outlets. Get your information locally. Remember that local is NOT inferior!
  

If you have any advice or comments on this topic, please add them to the comments section at the bottom of the page.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these issues!

Have a lovely day!